An Analysis of Two Ancient Precious Gems Cultural Relics

For the purpose of distinguishing the materials of confusable cultural relics scientifically, take the case of glaucous and ianthinus gems cultural relics, the amazonite bead, lapis lazuli earring and tube, erroneously assumed to be turquoise and coloured glaze, were respectively discriminated and identified from Shuangdun No.1 Tomb of Spring and Autumn Period in Bengbu, Anhui Province, Eastern Han Tomb in Shaogou, Luoyang, Henan Province, and Tang Tomb in Pishan Ancient City, Hetian, Xinjiang by using the modern nondestructive analytical methods, such as external beam proton induced X-ray emission(PIXE), portable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence(PXRF), laser Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction(XRD)analysis.Meanwhile, the mineralogical characteristics and application history of the two gems are also briefly described.The discovery of the three ancient gems cultural relics enriches the research contents of Chinese gems history, and broadens our understanding of our ancestors'mining, importing and using of gems.